For Immediate Release
“Czeching” in at Czhilispiel 39 Will Bring More than Just Chili
Barbecue, Texas music, and much more on the menu at this year’s festival
Flatonia, TX – October 14, 2011 – Flatonia, Texas is preparing for thousands of visitors to flock to their town for Czhilispiel, its annual festival, set for the weekend of October 28, 29, and 30, 2011, in downtown Flatonia.
Czhilispiel hosts one of the largest chili cook-offs in Texas sanctioned by the Chili Appreciation Society International, along with barbecue competitions for brisket, ribs, chicken, and beans, and a jackpot margarita contest. Teams come in from all over the state to compete at Czhilispiel.
Festival gates open Friday night with live music, carnival rides, and the arts and crafts market. Cook-off teams get their smokers smokin’ and prepare for a night and early morning of cooking. Saturday morning kicks off early with the Lions’ Club pie auction, and the cook-off judging begins and last through the late afternoon. Saturday will also introduce the finalists of “Czhilispiel Idle,” a singing competition with try-outs held every Thursday at Flatonia “hot-spot” Brenda’s until the week of the festival. Tons of other activities are held throughout the day along with fantastic music. The annual Czhilispiel parade starts Sunday, with more live music and fun and games rounding out the weekend.
Czhilispiel’s main stage is housed in a huge tented biergarten and dancehall along Flatonia’s North Main Street. Opening night features San Marcos’ Ross Brunner Band, and Flatonia’s Broke 60. Saturday’s lineup starts with polka from the Dujka Brothers, followed by oldies from The Original Triumphs. Chart-topping headline entertainment opens with Brandon Rhyder, and the evening will close with Wade Bowen, who will keep the party going until 1 a.m. Czhilispiel Sunday will feature live music from the Charlie Lucas Band and The Delta Fins. The biergarten is also where visitors will find tons of cold beer and margaritas, the pie auction, and big-screen televisions so you don’t miss that important college or pro football game!
Admission to Czhilispiel is free for all visitors both Friday and Sunday. Saturday’s admission for those over 12 years of age is $7 before 2 p.m. and $12 after 2 p.m. Proper ID is required for those 21 and up who plan on drinking alcohol.
For more information, contact the Flatonia Chamber at (361) 865-3920 or flatoniacofc@sbcglobal.net. Cook-off teams and vendor applications are also still being accepted. Applications can be found on the Flatonia Chamber’s website at www.flatoniachamber.com. Up to the minute news can also be found on the Flatonia Chamber Facebook page, www.facebook.com/flatoniachamber.
About Czhilispiel:
Czhilispiel began as a fundraiser to help fund a local Flatonia student’s medical school education. At the time Flatonia needed a doctor, so the residents organized the Czech heritage festival and chili cook-off, Czhilispiel. The student agreed to serve the community for at least five years after completing medical school, but ended up staying longer. Czhilispiel continues to use proceeds from the event to benefit local needs, whether they be for students or community services. Czhilispiel 39 is sponsored in part by: Adams Flavors, Foods and Ingredients; Brown Distributing – Budweiser; DGI Beverages/Black Iguana Margaritas; Do713.com; Henry Benedict Real Estate Investments; KCTI 1450 – The Sound of Texas; The Outhouse Company; Texas Custom Grinding, Inc.; and Wright Distributing – Miller Lite.
About Flatonia:
Flatonia is a town of approximately 1,800 residents located midway between Houston and San Antonio. It was established in 1873 on the Galveston, Harrisburg, and San Antonio Railway and named for the pioneer merchant F. W. Flato. Flatonia became a melting pot for English, German, Bohemian, Czech and Italian immigrants. The City became the meeting place of two main railway lines in Texas in 1887, when the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway was built south from Waco. Flatonia is still a well known and scenic spot for train watchers, boasting one of Texas’ longest standing, manually operated railroad switching towers with North-South, East-West cross rails.
###
